First-Time Buyer Checklist: What to Do After You Get the Keys

Congratulations on buying your first home. You've survived the surveys, solicitors, and nail-biting exchange. Now you're standing in your own property with a set of keys and a mortgage.

But the paperwork isn't quite finished. There's a list of things you need to do in the first days and weeks to protect your new asset and stay on the right side of the law. Here's everything you need to tick off.

Day One Tasks
First Week Tasks
First Month Tasks
Understanding Property Ownership
FAQ
Next Steps

Day One: The Essentials {#day-one}

These tasks need to happen immediately, ideally on the day you get the keys.

1. Confirm Buildings Insurance is Active

Your mortgage lender requires buildings insurance from the day of exchange (not completion). Check that:

The policy is active
The property address is correct
The cover amount is appropriate (usually the rebuild cost, not market value)
The policy covers the correct building type

Cost: £150-400 per year for an average home

What to watch for: If you exchanged and completed on the same day, you need insurance in place before completion. Most people arrange this when their mortgage offer is issued.

2. Take Meter Readings

Before you do anything else, take readings from:

Electricity meter
Gas meter
Water meter (if you have one)

Take photos of the meters with the readings visible. You'll need these to:

Close accounts with the previous owner's suppliers
Set up your own accounts
Avoid paying for someone else's energy usage

3. Check the Property

Do a thorough walkthrough and document:

Any damage not present during viewings
Items that should have been included (fixtures, fittings)
Anything that needs immediate attention

Why this matters: If there are issues, you have a limited window to raise them with the seller. Take photos and videos as evidence.

First Week Tasks {#first-week}

Once you've celebrated with a takeaway on your living room floor, tackle these tasks.

4. Register for Council Tax

You're legally required to tell your local council you're the new occupant. They'll send you a council tax bill.

How to do it:

Find your council's website
Look for "Moving home" or "Council tax"
Complete their online form
Or call them directly

What you'll need:

Your new address
Moving date
Details of any eligible discounts (single person, student)

Timeline: Do this within the first week. You're liable for council tax from the completion date.

5. Set Up Utilities

You don't have to stay with the existing suppliers. In fact, switching is often cheaper.

Steps:

Note the current suppliers (often shown on meters or paperwork from solicitor)
Use a comparison site to check prices
Either stay and re-register, or switch to a new supplier
Provide your meter readings

Don't forget:

Gas
Electricity
Water (usually can't switch supplier)
Broadband
TV license (if applicable)

6. Redirect Your Post

Set up Royal Mail redirection to catch any post going to your old address.

Cost: From £37.99 for 3 months, £49.99 for 6 months, £69.99 for 12 months

How: Online at royalmail.com or at a Post Office

Tip: 12 months is worth the extra cost. You'll be surprised how much post trickles through even months later.

7. Update Your Address Everywhere

Work through this list:

Bank accounts and credit cards
DVLA (driving license and vehicle registration)
Employer and pension provider
HMRC (Self Assessment if applicable)
Doctor, dentist, optician
Insurance policies
Subscriptions and online shopping accounts
Electoral roll (separate from council tax)

Electoral roll note: Registering to vote at your new address is a legal requirement and affects your credit score. Do it at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

First Month Tasks {#first-month}

These tasks are important but not urgent. Complete them within your first month.

8. Make or Update Your Will

If you didn't have a will before, you need one now. If you already have a will, buying a property means you need to update it.

Why it's now essential:

Without a will, your property passes according to intestacy rules:

Married/civil partner: They get up to £322,000 plus half the remainder
Unmarried partner: They get nothing (yes, really)
No spouse or children: Parents, then siblings, then extended family

What to include:

Who inherits the property (or your share of it)
What happens if that person dies before you
Who acts as executor
Guardians if you have children

Cost: £90-500 depending on method

How you own the property matters: See the section on joint tenants vs tenants in common below.

9. Review Your Life Insurance

Now you have a mortgage, your life insurance needs have changed dramatically.

Calculate your need:

Mortgage outstanding: £_______
Years of income to replace: £_______ × _______ years
Other debts: £_______
Total cover needed: £_______
Minus existing cover: £_______
Gap: £_______

Types of cover for homeowners:

Type	What It Does	Best For
Decreasing term	Payout reduces over time	Matching a repayment mortgage
Level term	Fixed payout amount	Income replacement, interest-only mortgages
Family income benefit	Pays monthly income	Ongoing family expenses

Important: Your mortgage lender doesn't provide life insurance. Any cover offered during the mortgage process is optional (and often not competitive).

10. Set Up Home Contents Insurance

Buildings insurance covers the structure. Contents insurance covers everything inside.

What it covers:

Furniture and appliances
Electronics
Clothing and personal items
Valuables (often with a single item limit)

Cost: £100-300 per year for average contents

Tips:

List high-value items separately
Take photos of valuable items for claims
Check if you need additional cover for working from home equipment
Consider accidental damage cover

Understanding Property Ownership {#ownership}

When you buy with someone else (partner, friend, family member), you choose how to legally own the property. This affects what happens when one owner dies.

Joint Tenants

You own the property equally (always 50/50)
When one owner dies, their share automatically passes to the survivor
You cannot leave your share to someone else in your will
Most couples choose this option

Tenants in Common

You can own unequal shares (e.g., 60/40)
Each person's share passes according to their will
You can leave your share to anyone you choose
Common for people protecting assets, unmarried couples, or buying with family

Changing your ownership type:

You can change from joint tenants to tenants in common (called "severing the tenancy") by:

Both owners agreeing in writing
One owner giving notice to the other
Filing a Form SEV at Land Registry

This doesn't affect your mortgage and doesn't require your lender's permission.

Complete Checklist Summary

Frequently Asked Questions {#frequently-asked-questions}

Key Takeaways

Insurance is mandatory: Buildings insurance from exchange, contents insurance strongly recommended
Legal requirements: Council tax registration, electoral roll registration, driving license update
Protection is essential: Owning property makes a will necessary, not optional
Ownership type matters: Joint tenants vs tenants in common affects inheritance
Life insurance gap: Your mortgage creates a significant new protection need

Next Steps {#next-steps}

Last updated: January 2026. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Laws and figures are specific to England and Wales unless otherwise stated.

First-Time Buyer Checklist: 10 Things to Do After Getting the Keys (2026)